3 Easy Crostini Recipes to Bring to Friendsgiving (With Wine Pairings)
If you're like us, you want your contribution to Friendsgiving to be impressive. But you also want it to be incredibly easy and not require hours with the oven on.
So, what's an aspiring Ina Garten supposed to do?
The answer, friends, is crostini.
Crostini are wonderfully easy to put together, but with a little thought put into the toppings, they can be incredibly flavorful and look pretty fancy, too. They're also ideal for Friendsgiving, when oven space is precious and you want something guests can snack on while the rest of dinner comes together.
The secret to a great crostini? Start with really excellent bread. We love a crusty sourdough loaf from a local bakery. From there, a few high-quality ingredients will do most of the work for you.
Below are three of our favorite combinations, each paired with a Tomorrow Cellars alcohol-removed wine we'd pour alongside.
1. Pear, Ricotta, Prosciutto & Pistachio Crostini
Paired with Tomorrow Cellars Rhône Blanc
Sweet, salty, creamy, and crunchy. This crostini has a little bit of everything, and the combination feels especially right for fall.
Ingredients
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Sourdough bread, sliced
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Whole-milk ricotta
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Ripe but firm pears, thinly sliced
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Prosciutto
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Shelled pistachios, roughly chopped
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Extra-virgin olive oil
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Flaky sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
How to make it
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Lightly toast your sourdough slices until golden and crisp around the edges.
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Spread each slice generously with ricotta.
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Add a folded piece of prosciutto and a few thin slices of pear.
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Sprinkle with chopped pistachios, drizzle with a little olive oil, and finish with flaky salt and black pepper.
Why we love this pairing
Our Rhône Blanc, made from Marsanne and Viognier grapes, is a lovely match for the ripe pear and creamy ricotta. The wine's freshness also provides a nice contrast to the richness and saltiness of the prosciutto.
Make-ahead tip: Chop the pistachios and slice the bread in advance. Assemble just before serving so the bread stays crisp and the pears look their best.
2. French Butter & Anchovy Crostini
Paired with Tomorrow Cellars Sparkling Blanc de Rhône
This one is for the people who know that sometimes the simplest combinations are the best. Good bread, excellent butter, and a beautiful anchovy. That's really all you need.
Don't let the anchovies scare you. High-quality anchovies are deeply savory and salty rather than overwhelmingly fishy, especially when paired with rich butter.
Ingredients
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Sourdough bread, sliced
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High-quality French cultured butter, softened
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Oil-packed anchovy fillets
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Fresh chives, finely chopped
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Lemon zest (optional)
How to make it
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Toast the sourdough until golden and let it cool slightly.
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Spread a generous layer of softened French butter onto each slice.
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Lay one anchovy fillet over the butter.
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Finish with finely chopped chives and a little lemon zest, if you like.
Why we love this pairing
Our Sparkling Blanc de Rhône is the perfect counterpoint to the salty anchovies and rich butter. Its bubbles and refreshing acidity help balance each bite, making this a particularly good appetizer to serve with a welcome glass of sparkling wine.
Make-ahead tip: Slice the bread and chop the chives ahead of time. Set the butter out to soften before guests arrive, then assemble right before serving.
3. Honeycrisp Apple & Brie Crostini
Paired with Tomorrow Cellars Red Blend
Consider this your very easy answer to a fall cheese board. Crisp Honeycrisp apples, creamy brie, and a little honey make a combination that's simple, seasonal, and always a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
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Sourdough bread, sliced
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Brie cheese, cut into slices
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Honeycrisp apple, thinly sliced
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Honey
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Fresh thyme (optional)
How to make it
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Toast the sourdough slices until lightly golden.
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Add a generous slice of brie to each piece of bread.
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Top with two or three thin slices of Honeycrisp apple.
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Drizzle with honey and finish with a few fresh thyme leaves, if desired.
For an extra-creamy version, add the brie while the bread is still warm so it softens slightly.
Why we love this pairing
Our Red Blend brings a deeper, richer element to the sweet apples, honey, and creamy brie. It's a lovely combination for fall and a great way to introduce red wine into the evening before the main meal.
Make-ahead tip: Cut the brie and bread in advance, but wait to slice the apples until shortly before serving to prevent browning.
A Few Tips for a Stress-Free Crostini Friendsgiving
The beauty of crostini is that you can do most of the prep before anyone walks through the door. A few things we've learned:
Start with great bread. Since bread is the foundation of every recipe, it's worth making a stop at your favorite bakery. We prefer sourdough for its flavor and sturdy texture.
Toast the bread ahead of time. Brush slices lightly with olive oil and toast in a 375°F oven for about 8–12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crisp. Let them cool completely before storing in an airtight container. You can do this earlier in the day.
Make a crostini platter. Rather than passing around three separate plates, arrange all three varieties on a large serving board. The different colors and textures make for a beautiful presentation with very little effort.
Wait to assemble. Prep the toppings ahead of time, but put everything together close to serving so the bread doesn't get soggy.
Plan for a few per person. If you're serving these before a larger Friendsgiving meal, aim for about three to four crostini per guest, depending on what other appetizers are on the table.
What to Pour at Friendsgiving
We think Friendsgiving is a great excuse to get a little creative with both the food and the wine.
Tomorrow Cellars wines are made from California grapes, fermented like traditional wine, and then gently dealcoholized. They're made for the moments when you want the pleasure of a good glass of wine without the alcohol.
For this spread, we'd serve all three:
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Rhône Blanc with the pear, ricotta, prosciutto, and pistachio crostini.
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Sparkling Blanc de Rhône with the French butter and anchovy crostini.
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Red Blend with the Honeycrisp apple and brie crostini.
Three easy appetizers, three wines, and plenty of time left to actually enjoy the party.